Clannad

Clannad are ground zero for the hybrid of Celtic Folk, new age synths and pop music that gets piped into seaside gift shops and relaxation seminars. But just because they helped create a genre as starched and bland as a boiled spud doesn't mean that their own music is lifeless. Clannad have been around for thirty years now and have created barrel-loads of beautiful traditional Celtic Folk music, as well as shimmering pop songs and dreamy clover-scapes. The band is actually a family affair -- like a Gaelic, straight-haired, Caucasoid version of the Jackson 5, with Janet and LaToya thrown in for spice. The related Brennan and Duggan broods got together to celebrate their shared heritage. Enya, the beautiful multi-tracked enchantress, was onboard for a short while during the early 1980s when the band was experiencing a surge in popularity in Europe. Since that time, the changes in their sound have more to do with trends in production and technology than artistic shifts. The Corrs have also stolen some of their feathery thunder by bringing even more pop and rock into their mix. Nevertheless, playing a Clannad CD remains a key part of any ponytailed man's plan to seduce his yoga instructor or herbologist.